Today we're going to learn how to mess with master pages in InDesign.
Overview:
- Learn what a master page does
- Create a new document
- Set document guides
- Set textbox for master template
- Make page numbers
Let's cover the basics first:
1) The Master Page...
...is a fancy name for "document template". Master pages allow for a more streamlined workflow when typesetting in InDesign.
2) ...What?
In other words, the master page will allow you to define areas that you want elements of your document to go without having to place elements manually. Done manually, setting page elements is a godawful, time consuming process that is repetitive and will have you tearing out your hair by the time you're done. As much as we pride ourselves on being human, we start to suck at a task over time if that task is repetitive. Computers are awesome at repetition. Maintaining uniform consistency is important in creating a polished final product. This is where templates shine.
3) Huh?
Still confused? It's okay. Scroll on when you're ready and I'll try my best to resolve confusion.
A few things to keep in mind:
- You will need MULTIPLE MASTERS. One for Recto pages, one for Verso pages, and one for your Half-titles (if you plan on using half-titles)
- Also keep in mind that you will have multiple pages that are independent of templates (dedications, foreword, etc) which require their own specific layouts
1) Let's start. First, make a new document. You can define your own parameters for page size (adjusted for your own book's dimensions). I'll just use a standard letter page size (8.5" x 11") for now:
1a) These, aside from the width/height of the page, are my standard settings. Feel free to change yours accordingly.
2) Next, we'll start on a new master page to define the page that starts a new chapter. First, go to the Pages panel, and double click the label that says "A-Master". When you've done that, there should be a black highlight over "A-Master", like in the screenshot below. When you've done that, right click, and click the option that says "Master Options for 'A-Master'":
3) The Options box should pop up. This box will allow you to manipulate attributes of the Master page that you're working on. For this tutorial we'll just adjust the "Name" attribute. Since we're working on a Master page that will involve a chapter half-title page, we'll name it accordingly:
* Make sure you name your templates accordingly! Things start to get confusing when you have more than one template flying around.
4) Congratulations, you've named your Master page. Now we'll continue to work on the Master Pages. Let me stress that we're working on the Master Pages and not the Spread. Below, you'll notice that in the Pages panel, the "A-Master" element is highlighted. The words highlighted in black and the blue page icon, it means that A-Master is the page being worked on. It will work this way for any page in InDesign. Ensure that theappropriate page is highlighted, or the template will be useless.
5) Below you'll notice a series of blue lines all over the document. What's all this gobbledygook? Guides. Guides are important because they do just that: they give you a visual guide of where elements on your page will go.
Creating Guides
You'll notice two rulers that are to the left side and top side of your document. To create a guide, click and drag the ruler. The ruler will not move, but you will see a thin blue line (your guide) moving with your mouse as long as you've got the button (left button on a PC) depressed. When you've found a place you want to put your guide, release your mouse button and the guide will be placed. If you screw up, undo by pressing Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z (Mac) and repeat the process again.
You can repeat this process and make as many guides as you want.
5a) Okay, so you know how to make guides. What now? In the screenshot above, I've made seven horizontal guides and one vertical guide. The vertical guide is directly in the middle of my document. How'd I get it in the middle? I took the whole width of my document and divided it by two. I'm not sure if there's an easier way to do it than that. It would be nice, wouldn't it? If anyone can figure that out, please tell me.
First, notice that I'm still working in the A-Master (or whatever you've chosen to call it in step 3).
Second, I'm going to try and make this easier by labeling each section A1, A2, A3, A4. Refer to the diagram for the titles and their corresponding locations on the document.
6) Remember how the Master page acts as a template for your document? We'll set the text areas now so that when you make your chapters, you can apply the template that you make and have a nice uniform look:
6a) Since I want to put my title on the right hand side of section A2, I'll select the Text Tool (press T), and click and drag to create a text box. You can tell it's a text box because its shape will be outline with little blue dots.
7) Time to add page numbers! Repeat the same step you did for the text box of your title. When you've made a text box in A4, click it so that you see your cursor blinking inside. After that, right click, and you'll see a context menu appear. Go to Insert special character >> Markers >> Current page number. Now you won't have to worry about page numbers. Hooray.
8) Blam-o! Magic! A page number! But wait, stupid Joe, A isn't a number!
I know. That's just a marker that's used as part of the template. Keep in mind that you'll have to do this neat page numbering trick for all of your rectos and versos, or else you'll see numbers on some pages and no numbers on others.
Congratulations, you've finished a basic template for your book! The basics you've learned in this tutorial can be used to make complicated, intricate stuff. Save your work, and save often. If you have any "awesome" ideas that you'd like to try on something you've spent quite a bit of time on (I've had "awesome" ideas before too), do save your work so that you have something to fall back on if your awesome idea isn't as awesome as you thought it would be.
Today we're going to learn how to mess with master pages in InDesign.
Overview:
- Learn what a master page does
- Create a new document
- Set document guides
- Set textbox for master template
- Make page numbers
Let's cover the basics first:
1) The Master Page...
...is a fancy name for "document template". Master pages allow for a more streamlined workflow when typesetting in InDesign.
2) ...What?
In other words, the master page will allow you to define areas that you want elements of your document to go without having to place elements manually. Done manually, setting page elements is a godawful, time consuming process that is repetitive and will have you tearing out your hair by the time you're done. As much as we pride ourselves on being human, we start to suck at a task over time if that task is repetitive. Computers are awesome at repetition. Maintaining uniform consistency is important in creating a polished final product. This is where templates shine.
3) Huh?
Still confused? It's okay. Scroll on when you're ready and I'll try my best to resolve confusion.
A few things to keep in mind:
- You will need MULTIPLE MASTERS. One for Recto pages, one for Verso pages, and one for your Half-titles (if you plan on using half-titles)
- Also keep in mind that you will have multiple pages that are independent of templates (dedications, foreword, etc) which require their own specific layouts
1) Let's start. First, make a new document. You can define your own parameters for page size (adjusted for your own book's dimensions). I'll just use a standard letter page size (8.5" x 11") for now:
1a) These, aside from the width/height of the page, are my standard settings. Feel free to change yours accordingly.
2) Next, we'll start on a new master page to define the page that starts a new chapter. First, go to the Pages panel, and double click the label that says "A-Master". When you've done that, there should be a black highlight over "A-Master", like in the screenshot below. When you've done that, right click, and click the option that says "Master Options for 'A-Master'":
3) The Options box should pop up. This box will allow you to manipulate attributes of the Master page that you're working on. For this tutorial we'll just adjust the "Name" attribute. Since we're working on a Master page that will involve a chapter half-title page, we'll name it accordingly:
* Make sure you name your templates accordingly! Things start to get confusing when you have more than one template flying around.
4) Congratulations, you've named your Master page. Now we'll continue to work on the Master Pages. Let me stress that we're working on the Master Pages and not the Spread. Below, you'll notice that in the Pages panel, the "A-Master" element is highlighted. The words highlighted in black and the blue page icon, it means that A-Master is the page being worked on. It will work this way for any page in InDesign. Ensure that the appropriate page is highlighted, or the template will be useless.
5) Below you'll notice a series of blue lines all over the document. What's all this gobbledygook? Guides. Guides are important because they do just that: they give you a visual guide of where elements on your page will go.
Creating Guides
You'll notice two rulers that are to the left side and top side of your document. To create a guide, click and drag the ruler. The ruler will not move, but you will see a thin blue line (your guide) moving with your mouse as long as you've got the button (left button on a PC) depressed. When you've found a place you want to put your guide, release your mouse button and the guide will be placed. If you screw up, undo by pressing Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z (Mac) and repeat the process again.
You can repeat this process and make as many guides as you want.
5a) Okay, so you know how to make guides. What now? In the screenshot above, I've made seven horizontal guides and one vertical guide. The vertical guide is directly in the middle of my document. How'd I get it in the middle? I took the whole width of my document and divided it by two. I'm not sure if there's an easier way to do it than that. It would be nice, wouldn't it? If anyone can figure that out, please tell me.
First, notice that I'm still working in the A-Master (or whatever you've chosen to call it in step 3).
Second, I'm going to try and make this easier by labeling each section A1, A2, A3, A4. Refer to the diagram for the titles and their corresponding locations on the document.
6) Remember how the Master page acts as a template for your document? We'll set the text areas now so that when you make your chapters, you can apply the template that you make and have a nice uniform look:
6a) Since I want to put my title on the right hand side of section A2, I'll select the Text Tool (press T), and click and drag to create a text box. You can tell it's a text box because its shape will be outline with little blue dots.
7) Time to add page numbers! Repeat the same step you did for the text box of your title. When you've made a text box in A4, click it so that you see your cursor blinking inside. After that, right click, and you'll see a context menu appear. Go to Insert special character >> Markers >> Current page number. Now you won't have to worry about page numbers. Hooray.
8) Blam-o! Magic! A page number! But wait, stupid Joe, A isn't a number!
I know. That's just a marker that's used as part of the template. Keep in mind that you'll have to do this neat page numbering trick for all of your rectos and versos, or else you'll see numbers on some pages and no numbers on others.
Congratulations, you've finished a basic template for your book! The basics you've learned in this tutorial can be used to make complicated, intricate stuff. Save your work, and save often. If you have any "awesome" ideas that you'd like to try on something you've spent quite a bit of time on (I've had "awesome" ideas before too), do save your work so that you have something to fall back on if your awesome idea isn't as awesome as you thought it would be.